Garbage storage receptacle



March 28, 1950 c. L.YDAVIS, JR

GARBAGE STORAGE RECEPTACLE Filed Jan. 20, 1947 wuc/Mom avisnlr.

Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,501,762 GARBAGE STORAGE RECEPTACLE Charles L. Davis, J r., New Orleans, La.

Application January 20, 1947, Serial No. 723,145

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in sanitary receptacles and pertains particularly to an improved underground unit wherein garbage may be stored pending collection.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a covered receptacle or chamber, so designed as to prevent the escape of odors and to be dog and cat proof, which is disposed entirely below the surface of the ground with a flush type hinged metal cover so that the receptacle may be installed in a sidewalk, neutral ground, or roadway where the garbage is readily accessible for collection.

Another object of the invention is to provide an underground garbage storage unit consisting 1 of a reenforced concrete housing having an open top, fitted to receive, and to which is securely affixed, a metal ring or flange with a hingedly connected metal cover which, when in closed position, may rest upon the top edge of such ring to form a tight closing contact flush with the surface of a sidewalk, neutral ground, or roadway.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved garbage storage receptacle which may be readily installed in the ground, sidewalk or roadway in areas in front of residences or stores where it is inconvenient to place cans or other receptacles, which, at the present time,

are employed to store garbage awaiting collection, and stand upon the surface of the ground, the present garbage storage receptacle being designed to lie entirely below the surface of the ground and house a conventional type can, the

receptacle being also designed with a hinged flat metal cover flush with the surface of the sidewalk, roadway, or neutral ground, so designed that it will fall closed of its own weight and present no dangerous obstruction or unlevel surface to stumble over.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garbage storage receptacle consisting of a tapered cylindrical container with a hinged fiat metal cover and convex bottom, designed to lie entirely be ow the surface of the ground with the flat metal cover level with the surface and designed to receive and store a conventional type garbage can, which may be removed, emptied and replaced when the garbage is collected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sub-surface garbage storage receptacle with an inner container in which garbage may be placed, and provided with a hinged flat metal cover of such strength as to meet the surface load requirements and present no obstruction in a sidewalk, neutral ground, or roadway, which may be installed in any location conveniently situated for the collection of garbage and thus eliminate the garbage can from-sight, the odors from same, and the possible scattering of the garbage by dogs, cats or other animals.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of thevinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in top plan of a garbage disposal unit constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the cover or lid in open position.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure l and showing a portion of the surrounding ground structure.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail section on a vertical plane and on an enlarged scale, the planer section corresponding to that of Figure 2.

Figure 4. is a fragmentary top plane of a portion of the cover and attached metal rim showing the hinge connection.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail through a portion of the cover showing the countersunk lifting ring.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen upon reference, particularly to Figure 2, that in the construction of the present invention there is provided in the earth In a hole II of suitable depth and diameter, in the bottom part of which is placed a layer of gravel I2 of suitable depth.

Disposed within the hole II, to rest upon the layer or bed I! of gravel, is an open top receptacle or bucket which is generally designated l3 and which is formed or molded of concrete, the side and bottom walls, l4 and I5 respectively, being of substantial thickness as shown,

The bottom l5 slopes slightly toward the center, as shown in Figure 2, and has formed therethrough the drainage opening l6.

Secured in the top of the wall I4 is a metal ring or flange I! which may be formed of steel, aluminum, or any other suitable material, and the top side of this ring or flange is exposed and the ring or flange rests on the top edge of the wall [4. However, the entire concrete receptacle l3 lies slightly below the grade line I8 50 that the top side of the mug or flange I1 is flush with the grade line l8.

Embedded centrally in the wall l4 and in the bottom I5 is a reenforcing fabric I1 of suitable weight reenforcing wire.

The numeral generally designates the lid or cover: for: thee embedded concrete receptacle l3 which is hingedly joined to the metal" ring or flange ll by a hinge unit which is generally designted 2|. This hinge unit 2| includes two' spaced lug members 22, of suitable strength;

formed integrally with the underside of the lid or cover 20. Also forming a part ofthehingestructure 21 is a hinge boxnwhich iscformed by.-

providing an offset recess 23 upon the inner periphery of the ring I1, which recess is bordered at opposite sides by the cars 24 which extend downwardly-i into 'a recessed area: 25a; formed: in theiconcrete wallz. lk-lofithen'eceptaclei 13: The lugs: 22swhich: lie: b'etweerrthee ears 21$; are. cast ornaa straight! tongue portion: 25'; which: projects fromf. thee periphery. of; the lid or: cover: 20' and which fitsaiintoathee cut-out: or recessed area123 3S1 showm irr: Eiguref. 4e. These lugsr 22; arepivota'llyrj oinedz to: the: adj acent. ears by: pivot f. pins 2 6i which: are: preferably formed of bronze;

As shown. in detaill in' Eigure 3 the a straight back: edge portion .ofi' thei' tonguea'. 2.5: which' forms a: part! of: the? lidi or cover: is?- beveled as a indicatedaat 25" and the straightportion or: wall of:.'thef:1recess:-.23:, which: extends. from: onez side of the. rccess= tow the other;. is. undercut tonform theastoprsh'oulderr 2 1; .againstiwhichr the beveled edge 25' of the tongue 25zahutszwhemthe-cover is closed. When the cover is; opened the top edgeofithi'ssshoulden 21ris contacted byrtheztop surfazcer. oi: the: cover: and) prevents. the. cover f rormbeing: openedi to :a'istraightzverti'ca'l :position: Preferably the construction is suchzaseto prevent the cover-fiomzopeningtmore: than-86 althoughrit' isitor be. understo'odi thatithe inventionwis n'ot' :limited tovthistspecific: angle:

The ring or flange I1 is secured to the top edge oi the: concrete" receptacle l3 by countersunki flat head screws 28 which' are passed through apertures 22 95h the rim and are threaded intoleadinserts 3.0 embedded'in'the concretemateriall The top side of the ring orfiange l1 is recessed from the-inner edge to provide a" flat shoulder 3 I upon whicli the-cover O rests, the outside bor dering inclined or beveled wall 32 of which is contacted by the correspondingly beveled edge 33" of the cover fll By'this arrangement there is prcwided' a'- tight "fitbetween 4 the cover around its periphery and' 'the riin or flange-which is secured to the top of the concrete receptacle l3i For the= purpose of strengthening the' cover 20 without adding materially'tothe weight-"thereoff the" underside of the cover is formedwith the' 'integral cross' webs 34% As 'willbe readily; apparent upon examination of 'FigureZ'; the' lidiorrcover llhwh'enin' closed position; is flush with the gi'adeline 18." of the sidewalk, neutral ground',, or. roadway in which the receptacle. l3 is sunk... i

The numeral 35 designates the lift handle for the lid or cover IT. This handle is here shown as a U-bolt free to swing in an arc of 180 degrees and lie flat in a counter-sunk position in a recess 36 provided in the lid or cover l1.

As will be readily apparent, the sunken concrete receptacle I3 is designed to have placed therein a suitable metallic receptacle 31 in which waste-material may be placed. Such a metallic receptaclezis, of.course, provided with the usual handles 38 or other suitable means to facilitate removing it from the sunken receptacle for emptying.

Fromzthet foregoing it will be readily apparent that there is provided in the present invention a novel" garbage storage receptacle means for residential; and: commercial properties, which eliminates the usual garbage can from above ground," placing it underground in such a manner that the contents thereof cannot be reached and" scattered: by: stray. animals; and' under all conditiom': canbe Kept? tightly covered" to'- pre-* vent" the: :difiusionr of 1' any *odorsw which. might de velopsinthe receptacles 1. A'niunderg round garbage storage unit; com-- prising: a. b-ucketi like a receptacle? formedf. of: con, crete and? having: a' .circulait'sicle' wall and l a bot.- tom wall; therreceptaclei-being open at its top and designed to be-iburiedx withwthe openitop slightly below ground; level; .a lmetal .ring: secured to the topi'of the: receptacle with its'atop surface flush with the ground leveLsaid ring havingits top? surf a'ce'=- cut: awayv atsthe inner: edgewtm f orm azcircular shoulder; .meansdormedtzinteg-ral; with said ring' andf projectingf below said? shoulder forminga; boxiha'v'irigspaced'parallel" ears, the shoulder. having: anioutwardlyislopingr encircling wall}. a: cover: plate; adapted to *rest' upon: said shoulder and. having an beveled? edger adapted; to haver tightl contact? with said; slopingr wall; depending: lugs carriednby the. cover plate' and each disposed adjacent to the inner side of an can-pivot: members connecting the :lugs and the adjacent. ears;:. thev ring havingan. undercut shoulder betweenisaid i ears; and" the cover" plate etweenithelugs havingzet beveled-edge designed to contact tightly, with; said undercut. shoulder when the:coverisclosed;

22 Amiundergroundi garbages storageiunit :of the character; stated-tin claimi'l, intwhichzsaid'v shoulder hasan inwardly directed edge; and" the'said pivots for the cover. are; positioned relative to said .edge 1 to" limitsthe :open position of the. cover to less than dt'agrees from the horizontal;

CHARLES Ii. DAVIS, J R.

REFERENCES CITED The"following'references are of"r ec01'din the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES: PATENTS Number Name Date 962,887" Bolgei" June 28; 1910 988L668 Short Apr. 4,1911

1139;188 Kane lVIay 1'1, 1915 221K097 Brooks Oct; 8, 1940 

